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Polo is one of the most ancient horse sports and was introduced in Brazil in the twenties. Respiratory diseases are considered the second main cause of poor performance, leading to significant economic losses in race horses. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is one of these diseases and affects 40 to 90% of race horses, however there are few researches directed to polo horses. The matter is of great concern to the equine industry due to the financial implications that result from poor performance, loss of training days, the need of medication before the races and even withdrawal of the animals from competitions. The endoscopic examination using a score is the diagnostic method most frequently used to quantify hemorrhage intensity. The main objective of this project was to do a clinic-epidemiological study using respiratory endoscopy in polo horses to evaluate the occurrence of EIPH. Respiratory endoscopy was performed between 30 to 90 minutes after the competition. This research studied 44 polo horses from Itanhangá Golf Club, located at Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro and from Regimento de Cavalaria de Guardas Andrade Neves (RCGd/EB), located in Deodoro, Rio de Janeiro, were used. From the 44 polo horses studied, 34.09% (15 animals) showed some degree of EIPH at endoscopic examination. There was no statistically significant relation between the occurrence of EIPH and gender. There was also no statistically significant relation between tracheal secretion and EIPH. Therefore, it is concluded that EIPH occurs in polo horses and EIPH's intensity is lower compared to thoroughbred horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of determining the enzymatic activities in the posterior respiratory tract as a diagnostic tool has already been demonstrated in several species. In this context, this paper aims to determine the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of horses from the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, comparing healthy animals with asymptomatic carriers of an inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Twenty-eight adult male animals with no history of respiratory diseases in the last two months prior to the study were studied. Physical exam and blood laboratory test results (ALP, hematocrit, leukogram, total protein and plasma fi brinogen) were within physiological parameters. The equines were separated into two groups according to the results of the bronchoalveolar cytology. The determination of ALP was done by spectrophotometry with aliquots of the supernatant of the BAL preserved in liquid nitrogen. To estimate pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and ALP activity, correction of the dilution caused by the lavage was done. The horses with a cell type differential count compatible with IAD presented a lower ALP activity in BAL when compared to healthy animals, therefore this dosage can be used as a complement in the diagnosis of IAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]